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Dawson, George Mercer, 1849-1901
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George Mercer Dawson

George Mercer Dawson's papers comprise professional, scientific and family correspondence, some scientific manuscripts, drawings and photographs of Western exploration, juvenalia, student materials, and poetry. His scientific correspondence (boxes 54-55) commences in 1872, but drops off sharply after the early 1880s. The letters, and his occasional draft replies, document the political and administrative fortunes of the Geological Survey, the North American Boundary Commission, and various learned societies. As well, they report on field research, particularly on mineral deposits, arrangements for equipment and assistants for expeditions, and the exchange of specimens. The correspondents include other members of the Survey, government officials, and business concerns, especially railways and mines. Dawson's scientific manuscripts fall into two groups: notes and reports on Western exploration, geology, mining, and Indigenous communities, 1870-1875, and 5 cm of general lectures on physical geography delivered to the Montreal Ladies' Educational Association, 1880. Closely allied to his scientific and exploratory work are an album of photographs taken in western Canada in 1894-95 (box 70), and about 10 cm of pencil sketches, sepias and watercolors of landscapes, many produced during exploratory trips in 1873-1874, and 1881 (box 59). Materials of a more personal nature include juvenalia (short essays, drawings, and two diaries from 1861 and 1865) and 16 lecture and laboratory notebooks from his student years at the Royal School of Mines, 1869-1872, together with pocket diaries, memorandum books, and notes of geological field trips during the same period (boxes 57-59). Dawson also wrote poetry, of which 10 cm of manuscript is extant (box 56), mostly reflections on states of mind, the Canadian landscape and seasons, and the vanity of human society, endeavour and love. There is also a small notebook of poems and reflections during an European trip in 1882 (box 58). Family correspondence includes 22 letters from his grandfather James Dawson, 1856-1857; 5 cm of letters from J.W. Dawson, 1856-1899; 15 cm from Margaret Mercer Dawson, 1865-1901; 3 cm from Anna Dawson Harrington, 1869-1901; 3 cm from William Bell Dawson, 1865-1899; 2 cm from Rankine Dawson, 1870-1900; and a handful of items from other members of the family.

Other papers primarily concern Dawson's geological interests, and consist of a diaries and general notebooks, 1873-1899; miscellaneous articles on geological subjects, 1887-1894; papers connected with explorations in the Yukon and with the Boundary Question between Alaska and British Territory and with sealing regulations in the Bering Sea, 1887-1897; correspondence, 1883-1898; and poems.

Dawson, George Mercer, 1849-1901

Poems

File consists of poems (many unpublished) by George Mercer Dawson. Additionally, a hand written letter from Lois Wilson-Spragge to Dr. Eakins (29 April 1971) is enclosed.

Dawson, George Mercer, 1849-1901

Poems

File consists of poems (many unpublished) by George Mercer Dawson. Additionally, a hand written letter from Lois Wilson-Spragge to Dr. Eakins (29 April 1971) is enclosed.

Dawson, George Mercer, 1849-1901

Diary and list of specimens, 1874

File consists of a diary from 1874 (entries dated between 6 April 1874 and 19 May 1874); and a reference list of collected specimens for the British North American Boundary Commission (May 1874).

Dawson, George Mercer, 1849-1901

Private diary and geological notes, 1873

File contains diary and geological notes: a) private diary for the British North American Boundary Commission, September 1873 (3 September 1873-26 November 1873); b) geological notes for the British North American Boundary Commission, September 1873 (3 September 1873-16 October 1873).

Dawson, George Mercer, 1849-1901

Private diary, and geological and topographical notebook

File consists of a diary and a notebook: a) private diary II, H.M.N.A.B.C. (27 June 1873 - 13 September 1873); b) geological and topographical notebook for the British North American Boundary Commission, June 1873 (entries dated between 18 June 1873 and 30 August 1873).

Dawson, George Mercer, 1849-1901

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